Sexual Behaviors and The Diagnosis of Paraphilia

Sexuality is a constant, perpetual state in which we are all engaging. When we wake up in the morning we consider how we can make ourselves more appealing to others through our dress, hair, makeup and even scent. We are constantly looking for our ‘perfect’ mate. When we find them we often have common interests, opinions, hobbies, and sexual preferences. When you are with your partner could it cause you to perceive that others are engaging in the same behavior as you? Have you ever considered what is actually the ‘normal’ behavior for someone your age and gender? I will explain some of the theories currently available for behaviors and explore a new relationship between the false consensus effect and perception of other’s sexual activity. Currently there is boundless research on both sexual activities and the false consensus effect, but there is a lack of data relating the two. Through this research I hope to provide a correlation between the frequency and activities participated in and the perception of other’s activities.

When we enter into the world we do not get to pick our first social group, our family. Our family is our first exposure to what is expected of us from society. We are taught how to behave and how to interact and learn how to behave in public. It has been theorized that most children will have developed a sense of self-control that will remain stable for their entire lives by the time that they are seven to eight years old (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990).

If children have not developed a good level of self-control they are susceptible to live a life of crime and partake in other socially unacceptable behavior. They are often focused on the immediate pleasure and don’t consider the risks or harm that cou...

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...on the rights of others. Atypical sexual interests should be looked at in a sliding scale manner. There will always be variation in behavior among people; however, if a pattern of high levels of atypical behavior emerge there is a larger chance of paraphilia. Another possible way would be to rate the level of interest in each behavior. If high interest in a just one atypical behavior you could classify them based on a low to high scale. (Hanson, 2010)

By doing this research, I am hoping to fill a gap in current research and to show a relationship between an individual’s current activity and preference and their perception of other people’s to be similar to their own. It will also help to show that some previously atypical sexual behaviors may be more commonly practiced than previously thought which would allow some to breathe easier about not being “deviant.”